The Australian Bureau of Statistics has announced a decrease of 24% in the number of sheep slaughtered for the fiscal year 2003/2004. Figures show a total count of 10.4 million, which is the lowest figure recorded for 20 years.

The situation is by no means uniform across the nation. Whilst eastern states of the country have seen slaughter levels drop dramatically, the western states have actually seen slaughter levels increase by four per cent, due to a higher number of sheep being available as exports have dropped off.

But the outlook is far from negative, as in spite of the annual figure, slaughter numbers for June 2004 totalled an impressive 815,000 head, which equates to a 30% increase on the same month in 2003.

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